Re-reading my post from a couple days ago A Return to Central Oregon and my statement:
“Central Oregon is where I got to be in my first quilt show – the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in 2007; and it is where my transition from traditional quilting to experimenting with art/improvisational quilt began.”
made me think about how much my art quilting journey has stalled over the past 7 years. Back in 2019, when I had my first solo show it looks like a very promising journey. Now at times it feels like that journey has ended.
I was able to create my Langston Hughes, Pioneer Poet quilt for a Women of Color Quilting Network (WCQN) show in 2021; and my upcycled denim and home decor fabric quilt What Direction Do I Go? in 2023 (which was rejected from a show I entered).
But that’s been it except for some playing with home decor and clothing scraps a little recently:
It feels like the improvisational and creative magic is gone in relation to “art” quilting.
I remember a time when I wasn’t interested in using quilt patterns, I just wanted to create original pieces.
Currently I primarily crave working from patterns and having direction. However even with using patterns I am not making as many quilts or other sewn projects (like when I was making a lot of bags and other non quilt projects).
I’ve been thinking about this and I just know it has to do with grief and how creativity, quilting and the fabric involved as so much a part of my prior life.
I definitely miss being around the amazing and inspirational art quilting community of Central Oregon.
I definitely miss my life long partner/best friend who was also a quilter (Remembering Terry the Quilting Husband (TTQH)) and all the fun fabric shopping related adventures we used to have. Terry loved dog themed fabric and every time I look at the amazing collection of dog themed fabric in my stash my heart hurts.
Every time I look at my fabric stash I struggle as so much of it is connected to old wonderful memories (and I realize how lucky I am to have had those experiences). Although I’ve paired down my fabric stash, getting rid of fabric that triggers memories is not a solution for me.
Joining local art quilting groups has not been a solution for me either.
I am working on figuring it out and seeing if I can find the passion I once had again. A couple years I even considering completely giving up quilting and just keeping my other crafts. But I know I still have a quilting and perhaps an “art quilting” journey still inside of me.
I think I am going to do something brave and enter my Langston Hughes quilt in a show that has caught my eye. It is okay if it doesn’t get accepted, I just need to put myself out there.
Thanks for reading my musings, sometimes it just helps to write about these things.
The featured image on this post is from a screen shot of the book Creative Struggle by Gavin Aung Than
tierneycreates 